Special Political and Decolonization Committee

For centuries, indigenous people all over the world have been living under the power of colonial empires and were often denied their human rights and rights to their native land. Their cultures and languages were violently erased, and their land was forcefully taken from them in pursuit of exploitation and material gain. However, even after decades and centuries from the liberation of some of the former colonies, the legacy of colonial oppression remains, as indigenous communities are still disadvantaged by governments, and have not received any form of reparations for the struggles of their people. Still, they are often forced to assimilate with the majority population in order to be able to reach job and educational opportunities and a respectable living standard, leading to the loss of culture and languages, and their rights to their native land, directly tied to their traditional lifestyle, is limited by profit-oriented business engagements. How can we ensure that indigenous rights are respected? And is there a way to compensate indigenous people for the damage they’ve had to endure? The SPECPOL committee will be tasked with answering these questions.

The growth of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem remains a large point of tension within the Israeli - Palestinian conflict. These settlements, which are widely considered to be illegal under international law, raise concerns about human rights, sovereignty, and a lack of a two - state solution. They are often viewed as an obstacle to peace negotiation, as well as a source of friction occurring daily within the territory. This issue requires attention being directed towards international legal norms, regional security, as well as the rights of both Palestinians and Israelis. You’ll have to consider historical context, the impact of settlement expansion of displaced communities, as well as the broader role of the international community in conflict resolution. A just and lasting resolution and conclusion must be reached, and it’s up to you to achieve this.